Glendale, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glendale, Kentucky
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Main Street
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 Glendale, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
Glendale, Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Hardin |
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EST) |
| ZIP code |
42740
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| Area code(s) | 270 & 364 |
| GNIS feature ID | 492892 |
Glendale is a small community in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States. It is part of the larger Elizabethtown area.
Contents
Glendale's Past: A Look Back
Train Tracks and Mail Delivery
Glendale was once called Walker's Station. This name came from a store owned by Lewis B. Walker. A post office opened there on March 2, 1859, and Lewis B. Walker was the first postmaster.
The town was later renamed Glendale because of the new train station. The name might have come from a railroad worker's hometown. A train depot was built in Glendale in 1864 along the Louisville and Nashville Railroad tracks. It was updated in 1905, and the old station became a freight room. The original depot was taken down in the 1930s.
Even today, the sound of trains passing through Glendale is common. People who grew up here remember trains picking up and dropping off mail. The train would slow down, and a mail worker would throw out a large mailbag for the local postmaster. For outgoing mail, the postmaster would hang a special "catcher pouch" on a "mail hook" near the tracks. A mechanical arm on the train would grab this pouch as it passed by. This clever system was called "mail on the fly" because trains could deliver and receive mail without stopping!
Learning and Schools in Glendale
Glendale once had a college called Lynnland. In 1867, it started as the Lynnland Female Institute for young women. A Baptist preacher, Rev. Colson, guided the school. After two years, a former Confederate Brigadier General William F. Perry took over. He changed it into the Lynnland Military Institution, which operated until 1879.
From 1879 to 1888, the building was a family home. Then, in 1888, it reopened as the Lynnland Female Institute. In 1905, it was sold to the Kentucky Baptist Education Society. By 1915, it became the Kentucky Baptist Children's Home. Many locals knew it as the Glendale Children's Home until it closed in 2009. Many young people received loving care there. They attended Gilead Baptist Church and local schools.
Glendale Elementary and High School became East Hardin Elementary and High School in 1964. East Hardin Elementary closed in 1971, but the high school stayed open. In the 1990s, East Hardin High School became East Hardin Middle School. High school students then went to Central Hardin High School in Cecilia.
East Hardin Middle School closed permanently in October 2021. The school moved to a new building in Elizabethtown. The old Glendale school campus is now empty, and its future is unknown.
Changing School Mascots
When the school moved, its mascot also changed. The old mascot was the "Rebels," which showed a Southern Civil War-era colonel. It was sometimes linked with "Rebel flags" for school spirit. Over time, the school stopped allowing the use of "Rebel flag" images in the mid-1990s. Eventually, the mascot imagery was dropped completely, and only the name remained. The Hardin County school system realized that the "Rebel" concept had become controversial. It was seen as connected to negative ideas from the past. The new mascot became the "Bruins."
Women's Rights Beginnings
Glendale was important for the women's suffrage movement in Kentucky. This movement worked to give women the right to vote. Mary Barr Clay wrote about Kentucky's efforts in the History of Woman Suffrage. A report from Glendale in 1867 said: "We organized here an association with twenty members... and now have fifty. We hope soon to have the whole of Hardin county... enlisted on the side of woman's rights." This shows that Glendale was a leader in fighting for women's rights in the state.
Glendale's Economy: New Opportunities
In April 2009, Governor Steve Beshear announced big news for Glendale. A group of companies called the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries (NAATBatt) chose a large state-owned site. They planned to build a lithium-ion battery factory for electric cars. This project was expected to create 1,500 to 2,000 jobs.
In September 2021, it was confirmed that this site would be home to a new Ford battery factory. This project is called BlueOval SK Battery Park. It is a partnership between Ford and the Korean company SK Innovation. They plan to invest $5.8 billion in two plants. The complex is set to open in 2025 and is expected to employ about 5,000 people. It will make batteries for future Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles.
Glendale's Climate
Glendale has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Fun Events and Food in Glendale
Glendale hosts the annual Glendale Crossing Festival every year. It takes place on the third Saturday of October. The festival is famous for its many antiques and handmade crafts for sale.
The Whistle Stop restaurant in Glendale is a popular spot. It is located right next to the railroad tracks. The restaurant is well-known for its delicious Southern-style food. It started as a small lunch business inside a hardware store. James and Idell Sego opened and ran it from 1975 to 2005. Mike and Lynn Cummins owned it from 2005 to 2021. Since 2021, Mike Franz has owned and operated the restaurant. The Whistle Stop has kept its traditional style since it first opened.
Glendale has special rules to protect its downtown area. These rules prevent large fast-food chains from opening there. However, a big corporate convenience store is allowed in the area.
Glendale is about 50 miles (80 km) from Mammoth Cave National Park. This park is one of Kentucky's most popular tourist spots.
